| Important warnings when holidaying in Majorca Keep a close watch on purses and wallets at all times, particularly at markets and at bus stops If you are approached in the street by flower sellers trying to sell you a carnation for a couple of centimos walk away from them, they are professional pickpockets. You may think you are getting a bargain, but several hours later when you find your cash and credit cards stolen you will soon find out differently. These people frequented the area around the Macdonalds and Cathedral areas in Palma for many years (and still do) but have also come to popular holiday resorts within the last few years and can be seen mingling with tourists on the street by day and night. You have been warned. Men and women also sell fruit on the beach. They are illegal vendors and are constantly being arrested by the beach police. They have no health certificates for their food and bear in mind, whilst it seems like a good idea to buy a piece of melon while roasting on the beach, what you pay for one slice you could probably by a whole melon for in the local supermarket. Eastern European-looking guys are also doing the rounds and trying to part you from your money. They work in pairs. One attracts your attention by, say, asking you directions or for a light, while the other is having it away with you purse or wallet. They also have a credit card scam. in operation whereby they block the ATM machine and you can't get your card out. They come along to 'help' and get you re-try your PIN number. Of course nothing happens and they suggest you come back to the bank first thing in the morning. But, once you have gone, they extract your credit card - and your money! They DO NOT operate while the banks are open so, if you need cash from an ATM machine, try and temember to get it during bank opening hours.Another trick is to con women on their own at car parks of local supermarkets and hypermarkets. They let down one of the tyres on their car and, as the woman gets into her car, one of them tells her that she has a 'flat'. Naturally, she gets out the car to have a look and whilst she is doing that, her handbag is stolen. They are slick and clever so, be one your guard just as you would back home. Be wary of anybody approaching you on the street just as you would back home. Remember, a fool and his money are easily parted! Another con is the "Three Card Trick". Guys work in gangs and show you how easy it is to guess where the nominated card, or pea or whatever is. It looks easy, they win every time. But when you come to have a go, lo and behold - you lose. Don't fall for it. These guts often work in and around markets but do occasionally come into the resorts Always CHECK YOUR CHANGE. Because you are British, or Irish, some shopkeepers, barmen etc assume you haven't a clue when you are given your change and you will just put it in your pocket or purse without checking it. The cafeteria in the arrivals lounge at the airport recently tried to short change me by over 2 euros and so did a local newsagent in Calvia. Naturally, they pretend they made a mistake, but add up all the 2 euros per day they can make - multiply it by 7 and then by 52 - it not a bad yearly wage on top of what they already get. So CHECK YOUR CHANGE and when it is wrong and they tell you it was the till's fault or whatever, just politely tell them you don't believe them. Having said all the above, the crime rate in Mallorca is lower than most parts of Europe so you can sleep safely at night, but just keep your wits about you - just as you would back home. |
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